What's your favorite Roald Dahl film? (Inspired by the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory thread)

[jobycom]

[GumboYaYa]

1. That is a tough call. We love Road Dahl at my house.

We even have the cookbook with recipes for things in his books like Amazing Wizzpoppers and candy covered pencils (which we made for my son's third grade class).

[jobycom]

2. Did you notice the addition of the doll in Matilda?

It's not in the book, but Devito created a minor side story with a doll he named Liccy. The called her "Liccy Doll" throughout the movie. Raold's second wife was named Felicity, Liccy for short, so she was Liccy Dahl. :) I thought that was a sweet little tribute and forgave Devito for altering the story a little for it.

[GumboYaYa]

4. His wife had a stroke....she had trouble forming some words.

That was his inspiration for his crazy language in so many of the books. I didn't notice the doll, but I am sure my kids did.

[jobycom]

8. That was his first wife.

No idea how I remember this, I'm not that fanatical about him. But his first wife had a lot of kids, and after one of them, I think, she had difficulties that led to a stroke. One of his daughters died, and he dedicated "The BFG" to her. "To Olivia." It'll choke you up every time you see it after knowing that. :)

For whatever reason he divorced his first wife a few years before his own death (they were married like 30 years or so) and remarried, to Liccy.

[Frank Cannon]

16. That was the actress Patricia Neal...

of Klaatu Barada Nikto fame.

[TZ]

3. Nobody has made my favorite

The Glass Elevator one so I voted for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".

[Aristus]

11. I have a very vague recollection of them making a TV movie about the Glass Elevator.

I was very young when it was on. All I remember about it is that it seemed to have been shot on video, rather than film; very low budget.

I could be completely mistaken. Anybody remember a TV movie about the Great GLass Elevator?

[arcadian]

5. Is 'The Witches' the one with Angelica Huston?

If so, then that one.

[jobycom]

9. Yes.

[arcadian]

6. speaking of Roald Dahl

Long before Willy Wonka sent out those five Golden Tickets, Roald Dahl lived a life that was more James Bond than James and the Giant Peach. After blinding headaches cut short his distinguished career as a Royal Air Force fighter pilot, Dahl became part of an elite group of British spies working against the United States' neutrality at the onset of World War II. The Irregulars is a brilliant profile of Dahl's lesser-known profession, embracing a real-life storyline of suave debauchery, clandestine motives, and afternoon cocktails. If this sounds oddly familiar, it's no coincidence: both Ian Fleming (the creator of 007) and Bill Stephenson (the legendary spymaster rumored to be the inspiration for Bond) were members of the same outfit. Although "Dahl...Roald Dahl" doesn't quite carry the same debonair ring, there is no discrediting this fascinating look at the British author's covert service to the Allied cause during WWII. --Dave Callanan

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DE9uNGcCL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Irregulars-Roald-British-Wartime-Washington/dp/0743294580

[jobycom]

10. Yeah, so far he doesn't seem as interesting as Flemming, but he was a spy.

He was part of a project to convince America to get off the fence, and he wrote propoganda to undermine the "America First" group (funny how in WW II the conservatives were the ones who didn't want to go to war, proving that liberals aren't against war when they know it is necessary). He was also a certified ace, having shot down five planes, and probably more that couldn't be verified.

Flemming was a bad-ass, too. He headed groups of commandos and spies, plotted out raids on German locations designed just to recover documents or technology (like the Enigma code), and did a lot of real James Bond type stuff, although he was more of the planner and writer than an actual combat spy himself. One rumor is that he is the one who lured Rudolf Hess to England and is responsible for him being captured.

I wonder if we're eventually going to learn more about both of them, that maybe both were more active as spies than we've heard so far. Very interesting lives they lived.

[nuxvomica]

7. You left out "The Fantastic Mr. Fox"

My second favorite after Willy Wonka.

[LynneSin]

12. Where is Fantastic Mr. Fox?

Come on that's HUGE!!!

[jobycom]

13. Somehow I missed that one altogether.

Never even knew it was made until just now, when I IMDBed it. :(

[Initech]

14. I always have a soft spot for the original Willie Wonka.

Not that horrid Tim Burton remake.

[Orrex]

15. +1

[Frank Cannon]

17. Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew?

The original is still the best by far.